BY ALEX MITCHELL
The Bronx is one of the best
places for seniors to live in America,
a new study indicates.
A report from Caring.com
ranks the borough 11th best out of
302 nationwide cities and the fourth
best place for elders to live in New
York state.
Seniors make up 12.3 percent of
the Bronx population and the borough
also has fi ve dedicated senior
centers done by BronxWorks scattered
throughout the borough that
accommodate a wide range of needs,
from exercise and nutrition classes
to computer training and health
services for the 65-years and older
population, the study shows.
“Seniors can seek out additional
resources and fi nancial assistance
from the abundant national, state
and regional senior-specifi c, nonprofi
t organizations with chapters
in the area,” the study indicated.
It also noted the signifi cant transit
options for seniors in the Bronx
as well.
“Seniors can also enjoy being in
close proximity to an extensive public
transportation network that offers
a reduced fare for retirees,” the
study reported.
The Bronx comes in at second in
the nation for transportation access
for seniors, just behind Brookhaven
on Long Island, too.
The cities were graded using 70
metrics across six categories: senior
housing, engagement, affordability,
quality of life, health care and transportation.
The Bronx soars above the national
average in senior multifamily
home access as well as availability
of subsidized housing.
The borough trails the American
average of zero step entrances
and housing cost burden, while it
also averages out on age diversity,
according to the study.
As far as senior engagement
goes, the Bronx trails in senior voting
rates and opportunities for civic
engagement.
Senior quality of life thrives in
the Bronx. The borough skyrockets
above the nation’s average, being the
fi rst ranked in categories like: access
to grocery stores, parks, jobs by
transit, walk trips, and household
transportation costs. The Bronx has
high numbers for libraries as well.
The Bronx comes in second overall
in quality of life categories only
behind San Francisco, CA.
Healthcare was a struggling category
for the Bronx, though. The
borough trails in primary care
physicians per 100,000 residents, as
well as mental health professionals
and dentists too. Patient satisfaction
was also below a national average.
Citywide, Brooklyn and Queens top
out against the Bronx for healthcare
categories.
The average cost of living for
seniors in the Bronx is $1,225, compared
to the $4,000 nationwide average.
Surprising to few, the Bronx put
up below average numbers in air
quality for senior citizens as well as
traffi c congestion.
However, the Bronx also has a
low crime and car crash rate for
seniors and the elderly population
also has better water quality than
much of the nation.
Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan
all surpassed the Bronx in
the national overall quality of life,
though.
The list also recognized San
Francisco, Fredericksburg, VA,
Washington, DC, Boston, MA
among the top 10 best overall cities
with New York’s numbers being broken
down by borough with Brooklyn
landing at fi ve, Queens at nine,
and Manhattan at ten.
BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY October 13, 2019 8
Bronx one of the best places for senior living: study
The Northeast Bronx Senior Center members. File photo
23-mile’ Boogie Up The Bronx River’
The Bronx River Alliance held its annual ‘Boogie Up
The Bronx River’ bike ride on Saturday, October 5th.
The 23-mile ride along the Bronx River Greenway went
from Soundview to the river’s source at the Kensico
Dam in Westchester County.
(top left) The start of the ride up the Bronx River. (top
middle) (l-r) Lisa Gillespie, Taisha Cox and Yvette McKelvey,
members of Black Girls Do Ride. (top right) Muhammed
Mamun and Muhammed Munir participated
in the ride. (left) Marshals of the bike ride included
Twahira Khan, Jonah Garnick, Andrew Rivera, Ameril
Hamer, Justin Mashia and Judi Desire. Photo by Laura
Stone
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